full screen vs widescreen and letterbox

[orestes.]

Yeah widescreen is best. I liked the black bars! ...but now with my widscreen TV you don't see the bars unless it's one of those really widescreen movies. (forget the ratio) or if there is a foregin movie with subtitles that place the words on the black bars.

[RJKD23]

Hmm....I could try and watch something wide screen and try to get used to it considering it shows more. All my DVDs, though, are in Fullscreen cause my mom prefers it, too.

let her read this forum to understand why W I D E S C R E E N is best!

[Lars Vermundsberget]

WHY would they add "black bars" to "ruin" the picture? Ever thought about it...?

However, to those who have "seen the light": It bugs me a bit when people say "widescreen is better", even though most probably mean well. It isn't always "better" because it isn't always "right". The point is that movies have different shapes (aspect ratios) and that particular shape should be retained on the DVD.

If or when "widescreen" (16:9) TV sets become the norm in the US, I fear that there is going to be demand for widescreen versions of films that aren't supposed to be. Therefore please understand and remember: No particular shape (aspect ratio) is always right or better. It depends on the particular movie.

[orestes.]

WHY would they add "black bars" to "ruin" the picture? Ever thought about it...?

However, to those who have "seen the light": It bugs me a bit when people say "widescreen is better", even though most probably mean well. It isn't always "better" because it isn't always "right". The point is that movies have different shapes (aspect ratios) and that particular shape should be retained on the DVD.

If or when "widescreen" (16:9) TV sets become the norm in the US, I fear that there is going to be demand for widescreen versions of films that aren't supposed to be. Therefore please understand and remember: No particular shape (aspect ratio) is always right or better. It depends on the particular movie.

When I say widescreen is best I refer to the correct ratio over pan and scan. I don't exactly say thatbut that is how I feel. I like the correct ratio. ...but for television I love how some shows are taking a widescreen approach. It feels more epic.

[RJKD23]

apologies about my "W I D E S C R E E N is best" statement, Lars Vermundsberget
i mean WIDESCREEN is best if it was originally shot in widescreen.
and FULLSCREEN is best if it also was originally shot in fullscreen.

[DaeLex]

Also even with a 16X9 widescreen TV you will still get black bars if the film if even wider widescreen like cinemascope! Or anything that is 16X9+!

Actually you only get the black bars on a widescreen if the dvd is non anamorphic widescreen. Non anamorphic means the bars are burned into it. Anamorphic means they are not.

[ichabod]

Actually you only get the black bars on a widescreen if the dvd is non anamorphic widescreen. Non anamorphic means the bars are burned into it. Anamorphic means they are not.

Well, no.

If you watch a film that is cinemascope like, The Lord of the Rings, Brother Bear or Atlantis. Which have aspect ratios of 2:35:1, that picture is much wider than the 16X9 widescreen TV so you would still get black lines. If you do not get black lines on your 16X9 TV when watching a cinemascope movie, it means that your TV is either losing parts of the picture at either side, or squashing it up to make it fit!

[Lars Vermundsberget]

apologies about my "W I D E S C R E E N is best" statement, Lars Vermundsberget
i mean WIDESCREEN is best if it was originally shot in widescreen.
and FULLSCREEN is best if it also was originally shot in fullscreen.

That's more like it.

Simply and precisely: "Original aspect ratio" (OAR).

[deathie mouse]

If or when "widescreen" (16:9) TV sets become the norm in the US, I fear that there is going to be demand for widescreen versions of films that aren't supposed to be.

I'm afraid that's already happening. Some Academy (1.375) or TV (1.33) movies and shows are being Pan'Scanned vertically or "open-matted" horizontally (oh Aladdin sequel oh little grasshopper and sacsey vampire slayer, where art thou) and some Cinemascope/Super-35 (2.35-2.55) movies are being Pan'Scanned horizontally or "open-matted" vertically (underworlded matrixed terminatrixes? ) to make them fit and fill the sixteennined 1.78 displays on some presentations or discs

I'm wondering if there'll be a 1.78 recomposed/pan/scaned version of the Incredibles on HDTV broadcasts...



On another note, 35mm Cinemascope projection films have modified their SMPTE ratios through the years having been changed to 2.40 since the 70's and 2.39 since the digital sound mid nineties so not all are 2.35

Roughly by year alone:

2.55 = 6% of the years
2.35 = 27% of the years
2.40 = 46% of the years
2.39 = 21% of the years

(Plus the odd SuperScope film @ 2.00 )

[Bill]

Even with Pixar's reframing...fullscreen means compromises, particularly on very wide titles.

Por ejemplo:

<img src="http://www.ultimatedisney.com/images/a-c/abl3.jpg"> <img src="http://www.ultimatedisney.com/images/a-c/abl4.jpg">

Which looks better to you?

I know that A Bugs Life was done before PIXAR started doing the newer expanded treatment found on Finding Nemo. Go get yourself a copy of Nemo and you should see the difference.

[Isidour]

Widescreen with no doubt!the only screen you can see really the whole movie-

[The Lizard King]

Here's my $0.02 added to this thread:

http://www.ryanwright.com/ht/oar.shtml

TLK

[orestes.]

Here's my $0.02 added to this thread:

http://www.ryanwright.com/ht/oar.shtml

TLK

Excellent, it's explained with Flash. I have to share this. EVERYONE around me I've come to realized does not give a damn what they have... theys eem to buy fullscreen, widescreen so freely and not really care if they have one movie in widescreen and the sequel in fullscreen. I thought this was only one of my sisters but apprently all my best friends (yup all three of 'em) don't seem to care either.

Here's to instances at stores that I've seen recently:

A young couple were about to buy 'The Incredibles'. She wanted fullscreen but couldn't find any. (I'm a nice person and I would have shown them to her but I didn't for two reasons... so she would get widescreen and because people don't seem to like when you help out like that). Her boyfriend didn't care which version, he replied with something like, "I don't know, there really isn't a difference." I hope he doesn't think that about all widescreen movies.

And I was at another store about a month earlier:

I saw a woman at a Musicworld store get pissed off because they never had a fullscreen movie that she wanted... only widescreen. It was an obscure movie so she was lucky to even find the widescreen but she wasn't happy. I've seen a bunch of people like that though and not just get mad because of not carrying fullscreen but people seem to get angry when a store doesn't carry a movie even if it is OOP. I've seen people say nasty things and swear because they couldn't find a Disney movie int he vault. The worst instance was when a guy wanted a movie that they had advertised as brand-new but they just sold out. I actually kind of got scared because I had never seen someone act so "insane". The girl at the register was new too and she looked so lost and I thought they were going to phone security but he left and I did too. With people like that you never know if they will want to return for revenge.

Okay got off-topic. Sheesh. Anyways lastly...

I saw this one mother getting a DVD and she didn't care which version she got. She got the widscreen instead of the fullscreen version but as she talked to the cashier you could tell she did not care. She would have picked up a fullscreen version. (So basically she is like my sisters and friends)

I complain too much and I like movies but some people just don't really care. I'm trying to turn those who do not care into people who people who care enough to get OAR.

I do not want to hear this anymore... "Damn it, I accidentally got widescreen." --a friend of mine upon discovering the movie she just bought was not fullscreen like she intended to buy.

[Sunset Girl]

Does amyone here know if the full screen version of the Incredibles has been adjusted in the way that a Bug's Life and Finding Nemo has been, or is it just pan & scan? I'm just curious; I already have the widescreen version and I have no desire to get full screen.

Personally, I don't really care if people screw themselves over when they are uninformed about the differences between the two versions. Or at least, as long as it doesn't affect the availability of widescreen.

I was talking to an old friend a while back, and she was complaining about her brother-in-law's reaction to a Christmas gift. He was all excited that he got he movie he wanted, but then saw that it was a full screen copy. Then he became completely underwhelmed, and complained that he couldn't open it because he had to wait until he could exchange it before he'd get to see it. And she wasn't even the one that gave it to him, but she was really ticked off!

She says that she can maybe understand getting worked up over that with a live-action movie, but not with a cartoon. And she loves cartoons! She's been a big Disney fan ever since I've known her, and I know she'd still be buying the movies for herself if she wasn't already buying them for her kids. But still, she argues, "What's the big deal? It's just a cartoon, who cares if something gets cut off?" So she knows the difference between the two versions, but she doesn't care! She just wants every inch of her screen filled up with the picture.

Sigh.

And then there was the time I was shopping at Wal-mart with my best friend. She wasn't sure if her boyfriend wanted full screen or widescreen of a particular movie, so I asked her what kind he mostly had at home. She said it varied, so she called him on her cell phone to find out what he wanted for sure. He said he wanted full screen. I asked her if he knew the difference, and he most certainly did, but he still wanted full screen. While she was still on the phone with him, I told her to tell him that he was a "dumb***!" Now I wasn't trying to be offensive; I was just messing with him. But then I felt a little bad, 'cuz when she got home, he was like, "Does Karen really think I'm a dumb***?"

But later I was told that he preferred having some of the picture cut off as opposed to the overall shrinkage of the picture. This is the main argument I hear from people that actually know the differnce but still prefer full screen.

Sigh.

We all just need to get widescreen TV's so we won't have this problem!

[Luke]

I know that A Bugs Life was done before PIXAR started doing the newer expanded treatment found on Finding Nemo. Go get yourself a copy of Nemo and you should see the difference.

<i>Finding Nemo</i> is a 1.85:1 film. Of course the reformatted fullscreen version isn't going to be that dramatically different. In fact, it's mostly a case of them just rendering more at the top and bottom. If that visual information wasn't necessary for the theatrical release that everybody saw, then it's not necessary for home video release either.

[melliekins]

hmm...where to start??

If you look at my profile, u'll see i'm a blockbuster CSR....and omg!! do people here hate widescreen.

Our entire staff is working on converting the general public to the original aspect ratio, but it's slow. If anyone owns the Beauty and the Beast PE in the booklet you see the difference, cause they show a picture. That was my turning moment. I used to hate WS too!! the Black bars drove me nuts!! But as it has been mentioned several times, the original aspect ratio (whatever it may be) is what the film makers wanted us to see!! We wouldn't want to go to a museum and see half of the mona lisa!!>????

and FYI by end 2006 all tv's will be widescreen and vhs will be no more!!! As posted in a memo we received at work.

So after 2006 Widescreen tv's will be the only tvs, which means price will come down. YAY!!

You'll also notice many tv shows and commercials are being produced in widescreen format, ie: ER, West Wing. The industry is changing over, if the public wants to waste their money on fullscreen films....boo to them!! We've also been informed that a film that is made in 1:33:1 (fullscreen) will have black bars on the sides when watched on the new widescreen tvs....not sure how true that part is though.


Someone did mention the aladdin III mess up....what the heck happened?? it clearly says both sequals in the 2 pack are a fullscreen 1:33:1 ratio...but I noticed in the brady bunch genie sequence that it was in fact cut off!! what are they doing?

well, I'm done my rant.....it's just too painful of a subject....

[Luke]

You'll also notice many tv shows and commercials are being produced in widescreen format, ie: ER, West Wing. The industry is changing over, if the public wants to waste their money on fullscreen films....boo to them!!

Flipping through the channels last night, I noticed some program on Nickelodeon was in widescreen. Wait a minute, that's a show for kids? I thought kids are supposed to hate widescreen?! It wasn't just a segment or a commercial, but a show. Presumably a regular episode of the show.

And yet, we get <i>Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken</i>, <i>Benji, the Hunted</i>, and so many other live action films chopped up.

[Nala]

hmm...where to start??

If you look at my profile, u'll see i'm a blockbuster CSR....and omg!! do people here hate widescreen.

Our entire staff is working on converting the general public to the original aspect ratio, but it's slow. If anyone owns the Beauty and the Beast PE in the booklet you see the difference, cause they show a picture. That was my turning moment. I used to hate WS too!! the Black bars drove me nuts!! But as it has been mentioned several times, the original aspect ratio (whatever it may be) is what the film makers wanted us to see!! We wouldn't want to go to a museum and see half of the mona lisa!!>????

and FYI by end 2006 all tv's will be widescreen and vhs will be no more!!! As posted in a memo we received at work.

So after 2006 Widescreen tv's will be the only tvs, which means price will come down. YAY!!

You'll also notice many tv shows and commercials are being produced in widescreen format, ie: ER, West Wing. The industry is changing over, if the public wants to waste their money on fullscreen films....boo to them!! We've also been informed that a film that is made in 1:33:1 (fullscreen) will have black bars on the sides when watched on the new widescreen tvs....not sure how true that part is though.


Someone did mention the aladdin III mess up....what the heck happened?? it clearly says both sequals in the 2 pack are a fullscreen 1:33:1 ratio...but I noticed in the brady bunch genie sequence that it was in fact cut off!! what are they doing?

well, I'm done my rant.....it's just too painful of a subject....

I used to hate WS too until I watched The Lion King in WS and didn't even notice it until I read the back that it was WS. On some you barely notice the bars but I now like WS better than FS.

[The Lizard King]

Here's my $0.02 added to this thread:

http://www.ryanwright.com/ht/oar.shtml

TLK

Excellent, it's explained with Flash. I have to share this.

Please do. That's the reason why I posted the link. I think EVERYONE who is considering buying a narrowscreen version of any film should click on the link above before doing so.

TLK

[deathie mouse]

oh and even on films than on the "fullscreen" (fullscreen for 4:3 displays that is!) are just open matted , showing (or recompositing) empty space and non essential image above and below, without cutting off the sides, all youre' getting is a filled screen alright, but a more boring movie. The tight shots become medium shots and the medium shots become long shots and instead of participating in the action we're becoming long distance observers of the film drama, as if someone with a camera was making a documentary of the movie shooting it 10 or 20 feet behing the cameraman and director.

instead of getting a close up of a villian's face as he looks magnificently evil while he gloats and we feel we're standing face to face with him, we see a head and shoulders shot and hey, he's not so threathening he's at arm's lenght, etc etc.

on that Sword and the Stone comparison pic i sometimes post, on the widescreen you can somehow feel the urgency of the discussion they're having while they're getting out of the door, cus we're coming out with them. On the open matte, well it's just like looking at 2 guys that happen to be coming out of a door somewhere. Like we were just passing by and saw them on their way out.

oh well if people prefer to hear Yesterday remixed in 1988 that's their choice